Become a Private Investigator

Start a rewarding new career, with training and support from the ABI

"Private investigators carry out enquiries for their clients to find out information and check facts." National Career Service.

Working as a private investigator can be varied, exciting and challenging. No two days are the same. One day, you could be following a fraud suspect to the other side of the country. The next, you might be tracing a long-lost relative. The results can be rewarding.

For you, it could be an excellent career move – especially if you’ve served in the police, the armed forces or security services. No doubt, you’ll have a host of transferable skills. However, you don’t need to have come from one of those backgrounds to become a professional investigator, The ABI can help you.

Is it right for you?

Maybe you’ve been made redundant, or you’ve recently retired? Or perhaps your circumstances have changed, and you’re looking for a fresh start – one that brings out your full potential and gives you independence?

Whatever your reasons, you’ll want to know more about life as an investigator, and how to make the transition to your new career.

You’ll have questions. How do you know if it’s right for you? What training will you need? How will you find clients? Will it disrupt your personal life?

We’ve got the answers.

If you think it’s the right move, the ABI will help you get there.

Your Route into the Industry

We’ve been the backbone of the UK’s private investigations industry for over 100 years. We’ve vetted and trained hundreds of professional investigators - and every year we help a select number to enter the industry through our rigorous training programme.

In short, we know the profession. And we can offer you:• Access to the best training through the ABI Academy• Industry updates – including the latest practices and procedures• Insights into the best equipment and reporting systems • Strict vetting, so you can prove due diligence to your clients • Networking with other members – a chance to share expertise, and forge alliances • The tools to support your clients – including an independently adjudicated complaints mechanism• And all the other benefits our members enjoy

If Not Us, Choose Wisely

We’ll make no bones about it. There are other organisations that will offer you a route into this industry. Some reputable, some less so. Click here to read more about why choose the ABI.

For example, we and other professional bodies have received reports that there are bogus training bodies that claim to supply sales leads to students who pass an exam. Concerns have been raised about these claims.

In fact, it’s often said in this industry:

“If you’re going to become an investigator, your first job is to investigate the people who train you!”

We back this whole heartedly. A good training company has nothing to hide.

"I have done a fair bit of research, discounting a few of the other ‘official’ associations and institutes, and see ABI as my most logical step in working towards my future goal of working as a Private Investigator.”